The 40 Year Old Virgin (or, Will Ferrell's apprentice is now the master)

Steve Carell is a fucking comic genius!!!

I first bumped into him in the Will Ferrell vehicle, Anchorman, which I loved to pieces. Since then he has gone on to play Ricky Gervais in the US version of The Office. Carell is a master of the uncomfortable moment and this film milks that for all it's worth, then it takes all that warm breast milk, greedily drinks it and spits it at the screen. Yeah, it is that sorta film. Buddah, you'll LOVE it!

Carell plays Andy Stitzer, who is forty years old and, you guessed it, a virgin. When that fact becomes known by his workmates they set out on a mission to get him laid. I know it sounds infantile. It probably is for the most part. There are so many great set pieces, scenes that play out so well because they resonate with those uncomfortable little moments in our own lives. I would list them but there are too many and it could possibly be a little too revealing.

Andy emerges from all of this as an extremely sympathic character. It is a mark of the hidden maturity of the film that he is not played out as a pathetic creature but instead wins the respect of all those around him. Don't worry, the maturity is very hidden and heavily obscured by shitloads of innuendo, double entendre and gross out, politically incorrect one liners. Most of this is showcased by Andy's workmates, Jay (Romany Malco), Cal (Seth Rogen) and David (who is played to the nines by personal fave, Paul Rudd).

Make sure you stick around for the "climax" it is Hil-AIR-i-US!!! (especially Paul Rudd's dancing). Oh, and watch the special features so you can see the extended "You know how I know you're gay..?" sequence.

Cum-loads of fun!

Tags: movie review